Jim Sciutto, CNN's chief national security correspondent, said the Trump administration was "publicly" backing an "armed coup" in Venezuela on Tuesday.
Sciutto, who previously worked on foreign policy issues in the Obama administration as a political appointee, made the comments on social media in the wake of far-reaching public demonstrations in Venezuela against Nicolas Maduro, the country's dictator. The remarks came directly in response to the Trump administration expressing support for Juan Gauido, the country's interim president, who is locked in a battle with Maduro for political control.
"Don't miss this: the US is now publicly supporting an armed coup in Venezuela," Sciutto tweeted. "On the other side is a govt backed by Russia."
Don’t miss this: the US is now publicly supporting an armed coup in Venezuela. On the other side is a govt backed by Russia.
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) April 30, 2019
The CNN correspondent incorrectly labeled the situation in Venezuela as a "coup." Tensions in the South American nation have been growing since the National Assembly—Venezuela's sole legislative body—declared Maduro an illegitimate president in January. The move came after widespread irregularities, including the banning of opposition parties, plagued the country's 2018 presidential election. Maduro won the race with more than 66 percent of the vote, despite an overwhelming majority of citizens expressing reservations about his stewardship.
Even prior to the election, the largest countries in the western hemisphere—the U.S., Brazil, and Mexico, among others—signaled they would not validate the results due to the "uncontrolled corruption" and rampant human rights abuses of Maduro's government.
After declaring Maduro illegitimate, the National Assembly proclaimed its leader, Guaido, as interim president. The appointment is only effective until Maduro vacates office, a transition to constitutional order is arranged, and new elections can be held. The National Assembly's actions have been recognized as legitimate and within the confines of the Venezuelan constitution.
Apart from the situation not being a "coup," Sciutto's characterization of Maduro's opposition as "armed" also appears to be inaccurate. Videos of the demonstrations indicate that a majority of those taking to the streets are only armed with sticks and rocks. Furthermore, one of the central reasons Maduro has remained in power is because large portions of the military and law enforcement have refused to defect. Those two groups are the only ones in Venezuela allowed to be "armed" as the result of a 2012 law that banned private gun ownership.
Sciutto, however, did correctly note the incumbent government of Venezuela was being "backed" by Russia. The Venezuelan strongman has drawn support from authoritarian regimes like China, Russia, and Turkey. Guaido, on the other hand, has been recognized as the country's legitimate leader by the U.S., France, and more than 50 countries from across the globe.
In the wake of Tuesday's demonstrations, President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reiterated their support of Guaido and urged Maduro to honor "the will of [his] people" and step aside. Maduro's proponents have remained no less intransigent. On Tuesday, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who initially urged Maduro to "stand tall" in the wake of foreign pressure, condemned Guaido's supporters for launching a "coup" to "appoint a post-modern colonial governor."